art projects
Community projects
Summer Art Trail
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Leila Houston founded the artist collective Silver Vine Arts in 2014. Known for its projects dealing with travel and belonging, the collective is committed to collaboration and connection. They collaborate with other artist collectives and host events in art and non-art institutions. Leila had been making and curating work about identity and home for many years, and it was a common theme among the artists in Silver Vine Arts. Events and exhibitions like 'Nomadic 2007', 'Points of Departure', 'Winter Footprints', and 'The Forever Changing Encounter' were influenced by change and reconnection.
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Leila created a model where local artists from marginalised groups would be involved in organising a festival, gain experience and work, while also working alongside large organisations in the city. They designed the first ten-day contemporary art festival of its scale in the city, Summer Art Trail. By advertising the whole event, they shared visitors between arts and non-arts organisations. The project created partnerships with arts and cultural organisations in Leicester city and assisted with footfall to smaller newer organisations. Over 7,368 people attended the festival in its second and 3rd year, it became a major part of the City Festival and was kindly funded by Leicester City Council. Every year, approximately 80+ regional and international artists exhibit at 12 venues throughout the city. We coordinated three open call exhibitions in venues that gave a different experience from one place to the next, even opening up some derelict spaces usually hidden away from the public eye and included artists residency opportunities, live music and sonic performances, family workshops, and artist talks. The initial groundwork, data, accessible design, and feedback paved the way for future contemporary art festivals in Leicester City. 
La Maison De Poche
The Pocket House (2005)
by Leila Houston
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Silver vine arts |
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Silver Vine Arts is an Artist-led, non-profit organisation founded by Leila Houston in collaboration with Melissa Fletcher, James Chantry, Zory Rubel, Courtney Askey, alongside associate members and an ever-growing group of individuals, each with their own creative practice.
Their origin began with Summer Art Trail 2014 where the organisers and volunteers shared a similar passion for supporting other artists and communities within our city. From there WTS Gallery was established where members organised and curated regular exhibitions for up-and-coming artists. Gaining more talented and hardworking creatives along the way, Silver Vine Arts runs and coordinates various creative events and fundraisers such as arts festival Summer Art Trail, Winter Footprints, Points of departure, and their art stall The Forever changing Encounter Counter; and implementing training and employment opportunities for new graduates.
We are a nomadic organisation, with no set venue and wish to remain as such. All our work and ethos is about moving from place, to place. When things are fresh each time, we believe it creates new creative possibilities for us and brings fresh eyes to those that attend, however it also brings communities closer together should they attend each place we run an event.
Silver Vine Arts are very passionate about including all those that feel they are underrepresented in the arts - many of the organisers who are are very high up in their practice do exhibit with us but we will also open up the opportunity to the public to be part of each event. We understand what it means to feel you belong!
Their origin began with Summer Art Trail 2014 where the organisers and volunteers shared a similar passion for supporting other artists and communities within our city. From there WTS Gallery was established where members organised and curated regular exhibitions for up-and-coming artists. Gaining more talented and hardworking creatives along the way, Silver Vine Arts runs and coordinates various creative events and fundraisers such as arts festival Summer Art Trail, Winter Footprints, Points of departure, and their art stall The Forever changing Encounter Counter; and implementing training and employment opportunities for new graduates.
We are a nomadic organisation, with no set venue and wish to remain as such. All our work and ethos is about moving from place, to place. When things are fresh each time, we believe it creates new creative possibilities for us and brings fresh eyes to those that attend, however it also brings communities closer together should they attend each place we run an event.
Silver Vine Arts are very passionate about including all those that feel they are underrepresented in the arts - many of the organisers who are are very high up in their practice do exhibit with us but we will also open up the opportunity to the public to be part of each event. We understand what it means to feel you belong!
